Gamba Osaka on Thursday announced that midfielder Ritsu Doan has played enough minutes to qualify for a “Pro A” contract, the top tier available for J.League players.

The 18-year-old made his professional debut in 2015 while in his second year of high school and has scored seven goals in 15 appearances for Gamba’s Under-23 team in the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J3 League.

His form saw him make his first professional appearances for the senior team in the J1 League and AFC Champions League.

Doan, a native of Hyogo Prefecture, has also represented Japan at the U-16, U-17, U-18, and U-19 levels.